Australian Daily Prayer

1st Wednesday after Trinity

1
Rejoice always; pray without ceasing;
in everything give thanks;
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Glory to God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit:
as in the beginning, so now, and for ever. Amen.
2 The Opening Canticle, A Song of God's Grace
Blessed are you,
the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ:
for you have blessed us in Christ Jesus
with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.

You chose us to be yours in Christ
before the foundation of the world:
that we should be holy and blameless before you.
In love you destined us to be your children,
through Jesus Christ:
according to the purpose of your will,
To the praise of your glorious grace:
which you freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
Ephesians 1:3-6
3 The Opening Prayer
The night has passed and the day lies open before us;
let us pray with one heart and mind.
Silence may be kept
As we rejoice in the gift of this new day,
so may the light of your presence, O God,
set our hearts on fire with love for you;
now and for ever. Amen.
4 The Psalms as appointed. A pause is observed after each
1  I will bless the Lord at all times; 
   his praise shall ever be in my mouth.
2  My soul shall glory in the Lord; 
   let the humble hear and be glad.
3  O magnify the Lord with me; 
   let us exalt his name together.
4  I sought the Lord and he answered me 
   and delivered me from all my fears.
5  Look upon him and be radiant 
   and your faces shall not be ashamed.
6  This poor soul cried, and the Lord heard me 
   and saved me from all my troubles.
7  The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him 
   and delivers them.
8  O taste and see that the Lord is gracious; 
   blessed is the one who trusts in him.
9  Fear the Lord, all you his holy ones, 
   for those who fear him lack nothing.
10  Lions may lack and suffer hunger, 
   but those who seek the Lord
      lack nothing that is good.
11  Come, my children, and listen to me; 
   I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12  Who is there who delights in life 
   and longs for days to enjoy good things?
13  Keep your tongue from evil 
   and your lips from lying words.
14  Turn from evil and do good; 
   seek peace and pursue it.
15  The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous 
   and his ears are open to their cry.
16  The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, 
   to root out the remembrance of them from the earth.
17  The righteous cry and the Lord hears them 
   and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18  The Lord is near to the brokenhearted 
   and will save those who are crushed in spirit.
19  Many are the troubles of the righteous; 
   from them all will the Lord deliver them.
20  He keeps all their bones, 
   so that not one of them is broken.
21  But evil shall slay the wicked 
   and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
22  The Lord ransoms the life of his servants 
   and will condemn none who seek refuge in him.
5 At the end of the (last) pause there may follow
We consecrate this day to your service, O Lord; may all our thoughts, words, and actions be well-pleasing to you and serve the good of our brothers and sisters; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
6 One or two Readings from the Bible as appointed

Joshua 8:1–29 (Listen)

The Fall of Ai

8:1 And the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not fear and do not be dismayed. Take all the fighting men with you, and arise, go up to Ai. See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, and his people, his city, and his land. And you shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king. Only its spoil and its livestock you shall take as plunder for yourselves. Lay an ambush against the city, behind it.”

So Joshua and all the fighting men arose to go up to Ai. And Joshua chose 30,000 mighty men of valor and sent them out by night. And he commanded them, “Behold, you shall lie in ambush against the city, behind it. Do not go very far from the city, but all of you remain ready. And I and all the people who are with me will approach the city. And when they come out against us just as before, we shall flee before them. And they will come out after us, until we have drawn them away from the city. For they will say, ‘They are fleeing from us, just as before.’ So we will flee before them. Then you shall rise up from the ambush and seize the city, for the LORD your God will give it into your hand. And as soon as you have taken the city, you shall set the city on fire. You shall do according to the word of the LORD. See, I have commanded you.” So Joshua sent them out. And they went to the place of ambush and lay between Bethel and Ai, to the west of Ai, but Joshua spent that night among the people.

10 Joshua arose early in the morning and mustered the people and went up, he and the elders of Israel, before the people to Ai. 11 And all the fighting men who were with him went up and drew near before the city and encamped on the north side of Ai, with a ravine between them and Ai. 12 He took about 5,000 men and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, to the west of the city. 13 So they stationed the forces, the main encampment that was north of the city and its rear guard west of the city. But Joshua spent that night in the valley. 14 And as soon as the king of Ai saw this, he and all his people, the men of the city, hurried and went out early to the appointed place1 toward the Arabah to meet Israel in battle. But he did not know that there was an ambush against him behind the city. 15 And Joshua and all Israel pretended to be beaten before them and fled in the direction of the wilderness. 16 So all the people who were in the city were called together to pursue them, and as they pursued Joshua they were drawn away from the city. 17 Not a man was left in Ai or Bethel who did not go out after Israel. They left the city open and pursued Israel.

18 Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Stretch out the javelin that is in your hand toward Ai, for I will give it into your hand.” And Joshua stretched out the javelin that was in his hand toward the city. 19 And the men in the ambush rose quickly out of their place, and as soon as he had stretched out his hand, they ran and entered the city and captured it. And they hurried to set the city on fire. 20 So when the men of Ai looked back, behold, the smoke of the city went up to heaven, and they had no power to flee this way or that, for the people who fled to the wilderness turned back against the pursuers. 21 And when Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had captured the city, and that the smoke of the city went up, then they turned back and struck down the men of Ai. 22 And the others came out from the city against them, so they were in the midst of Israel, some on this side, and some on that side. And Israel struck them down, until there was left none that survived or escaped. 23 But the king of Ai they took alive, and brought him near to Joshua.

24 When Israel had finished killing all the inhabitants of Ai in the open wilderness where they pursued them, and all of them to the very last had fallen by the edge of the sword, all Israel returned to Ai and struck it down with the edge of the sword. 25 And all who fell that day, both men and women, were 12,000, all the people of Ai. 26 But Joshua did not draw back his hand with which he stretched out the javelin until he had devoted all the inhabitants of Ai to destruction.2 27 Only the livestock and the spoil of that city Israel took as their plunder, according to the word of the LORD that he commanded Joshua. 28 So Joshua burned Ai and made it forever a heap of ruins, as it is to this day. 29 And he hanged the king of Ai on a tree until evening. And at sunset Joshua commanded, and they took his body down from the tree and threw it at the entrance of the gate of the city and raised over it a great heap of stones, which stands there to this day.

Footnotes

[1] 8:14 Hebrew appointed time
[2] 8:26 That is, set apart (devoted) as an offering to the Lord (for destruction)

(ESV)

Luke 11:1–13 (Listen)

The Lord’s Prayer

11:1 Now Jesus1 was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” And he said to them, “When you pray, say:

  “Father, hallowed be your name.
  Your kingdom come.
  Give us each day our daily bread,2
  and forgive us our sins,
    for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
  And lead us not into temptation.”

And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence3 he will rise and give him whatever he needs. And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asks for4 a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Footnotes

[1] 11:1 Greek he
[2] 11:3 Or our bread for tomorrow
[3] 11:8 Or persistence
[4] 11:11 Some manuscripts insert bread, will give him a stone; or if he asks for

(ESV)

The reading may be followed by a period of silence for reflection, a hymn or
May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory.
7 The Canticle, Te Deum Laudamus
We praise you, O God:
we acclaim you as Lord.
All creation worships you:
the Father everlasting.
To you all angels, all the powers of heaven:
the cherubim and seraphim, sing in endless praise:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might:
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
The glorious company of apostles praise you:
The noble fellowship of prophets praise you.
The white-robed army of martyrs praise you:
Throughout the world, the holy Church acclaims you:
Father, of majesty unbounded:
your true and only Son, worthy of all praise,
the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.

You, Christ, are King of glory:
the eternal Son of the Father.
When you took our flesh to set us free:
you humbly chose the virgin's womb.
You overcame the sting of death:
and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.
You are seated at God's right hand in glory:
We believe that you will come to be our judge.
Come then, Lord, and help your people,
bought with the price of your own blood:
and bring us with your saints
to glory everlasting.
8 The Apostles' Creed may be said
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
9 The Prayers
Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy Lord have mercy.
10 The Lord's Prayer and the Collect of the Day
Our Father in heaven
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.
Almighty God,
who give to your servant N
boldness to confess the name of Jesus Christ
and courage to die for this faith:
teach us to always to be ready
to give a reason for the hope that is in us,
and to suffer gladly for the sake of our Lord and Saviour;
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Almighty God,
by whose grace and power
your holy martyr N triumphed over suffering
and was faithful even to death:
grant that we, who now remember him/her in thanksgiving,
may be so faithful in our witness to you in this world,
that we may receive with him/her the crown of everlasting life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
O God, our heavenly Father,
who raised up your faithful servant N
to be a bishop in your Church
and to feed your flock:
give abundantly to all bishops and other pastors
the gifts of your Holy Spirit,
so that they may minister in your household
as true servants of Christ,
and stewards of your holy mysteries;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
O God, our heavenly Father,
who raised up your faithful servant N
to be a bishop in your Church
and to feed your flock:
give abundantly to all bishops and other pastors
the gifts of your Holy Spirit,
so that they may minister in your household
as true servants of Christ,
and stewards of your holy mysteries;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
11 Intercessions and Thanksgivings may be made according to local custom and need.
12 The Morning Collect
Eternal God and Father, by whose power we are created and by whose love we are redeemed: guide and strengthen us by your Spirit, that we may give ourselves to your service, and live this day in love to one another and to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
13
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us praise the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant us to live in such harmony with one another in accord with Christ Jesus, that we may with one voice glorify our God and Father. Amen.
Romans 15:5-6
1
The glory of the Lord shall be revealed;
and all people shall see it together.
Isaiah 40:5
Glory to God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit:
as in the beginning, so now, and for ever. Amen.
2 The Opening Canticle, A Song of Praise
God be gracious to us and bless us:
and make your face to shine upon us,
That your way may be known upon the earth:
your salvation among all nations.
Let the peoples praise you, O God:
let all the peoples praise you.

Let the nations be glad and sing for joy:
for you judge the peoples with equity
and govern the nations upon earth.

Let the peoples praise you, O God:
let all the peoples praise you.

Then the earth will bring forth its increase:
and God, our own God, will bless us.
You, O God, will bless us:
and all the ends of the earth will fear you.
Psalm 67
3 The Opening Prayer
The day is now passed and the night is at hand.
Let us pray with one heart and mind.
Silence may be kept
Father of lights, receive the prayer and praise we offer you as our evening sacrifice; make us a light for all the world, delivered by your goodness from all the works of darkness; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.
4 The Psalms as appointed. A pause is observed after each
33  Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes 
   and I shall keep it to the end.
34  Give me understanding and I shall keep your law; 
   I shall keep it with my whole heart.
35  Lead me in the path of your commandments, 
   for therein is my delight.
36  Incline my heart to your testimonies 
   and not to unjust gain.
37  Turn away my eyes lest they gaze on vanities; 
   O give me life in your ways.
38  Confirm to your servant your promise, 
   which stands for all who fear you.
39  Turn away the reproach which I dread, 
   because your judgements are good.
40  Behold, I long for your commandments; 
   in your righteousness give me life.
41  Let your faithful love come unto me, O Lord, 
   even your salvation, according to your promise.
42  Then shall I answer those who taunt me, 
   for my trust is in your word.
43  O take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, 
   for my hope is in your judgements.
44  So shall I always keep your law; 
   I shall keep it for ever and ever.
45  I will walk at liberty, 
   because I study your commandments.
46  I will tell of your testimonies, even before kings, 
   and will not be ashamed.
47  My delight shall be in your commandments, 
   which I have greatly loved.
48  My hands will I lift up to your commandments,
      which I love, 
   and I will meditate on your statutes.
49  Remember your word to your servant, 
   on which you have built my hope.
50  This is my comfort in my trouble, 
   that your promise gives me life.
51  The proud have derided me cruelly, 
   but I have not turned aside from your law.
52  I have remembered your everlasting judgements, O Lord, 
   and have been comforted.
53  I am seized with indignation at the wicked, 
   for they have forsaken your law.
54  Your statutes have been like songs to me 
   in the house of my pilgrimage.
55  I have thought on your name in the night, O Lord, 
   and so have I kept your law.
56  These blessings have been mine, 
   for I have kept your commandments.
5 At the end of the (last) pause there may follow
God of all power and might, the author and giver of all good things: graft in our hearts the love of your name, increase in us true religion, nourish us with all goodness, and of your great mercy keep us in the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
6 One or two Readings from the Bible as appointed

2 Chronicles 29:1–19 (Listen)

Hezekiah Reigns in Judah

29:1 Hezekiah began to reign when he was twenty-five years old, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Abijah1 the daughter of Zechariah. And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that David his father had done.

Hezekiah Cleanses the Temple

In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the house of the LORD and repaired them. He brought in the priests and the Levites and assembled them in the square on the east and said to them, “Hear me, Levites! Now consecrate yourselves, and consecrate the house of the LORD, the God of your fathers, and carry out the filth2 from the Holy Place. For our fathers have been unfaithful and have done what was evil in the sight of the LORD our God. They have forsaken him and have turned away their faces from the habitation of the LORD and turned their backs. They also shut the doors of the vestibule and put out the lamps and have not burned incense or offered burnt offerings in the Holy Place to the God of Israel. Therefore the wrath of the LORD came on Judah and Jerusalem, and he has made them an object of horror, of astonishment, and of hissing, as you see with your own eyes. For behold, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this. 10 Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the LORD, the God of Israel, in order that his fierce anger may turn away from us. 11 My sons, do not now be negligent, for the LORD has chosen you to stand in his presence, to minister to him and to be his ministers and make offerings to him.”

12 Then the Levites arose, Mahath the son of Amasai, and Joel the son of Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites; and of the sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi, and Azariah the son of Jehallelel; and of the Gershonites, Joah the son of Zimmah, and Eden the son of Joah; 13 and of the sons of Elizaphan, Shimri and Jeuel; and of the sons of Asaph, Zechariah and Mattaniah; 14 and of the sons of Heman, Jehuel and Shimei; and of the sons of Jeduthun, Shemaiah and Uzziel. 15 They gathered their brothers and consecrated themselves and went in as the king had commanded, by the words of the LORD, to cleanse the house of the LORD. 16 The priests went into the inner part of the house of the LORD to cleanse it, and they brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of the LORD into the court of the house of the LORD. And the Levites took it and carried it out to the brook Kidron. 17 They began to consecrate on the first day of the first month, and on the eighth day of the month they came to the vestibule of the LORD. Then for eight days they consecrated the house of the LORD, and on the sixteenth day of the first month they finished. 18 Then they went in to Hezekiah the king and said, “We have cleansed all the house of the LORD, the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the table for the showbread and all its utensils. 19 All the utensils that King Ahaz discarded in his reign when he was faithless, we have made ready and consecrated, and behold, they are before the altar of the LORD.”

Footnotes

[1] 29:1 Spelled Abi in 2 Kings 18:2
[2] 29:5 Hebrew impurity

(ESV)

Romans 5:1–11 (Listen)

Peace with God Through Faith

5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we1 have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith2 into this grace in which we stand, and we3 rejoice4 in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Footnotes

[1] 5:1 Some manuscripts let us
[2] 5:2 Some manuscripts omit by faith
[3] 5:2 Or let us; also verse 3
[4] 5:2 Or boast; also verses 3, 11

(ESV)

The reading may be followed by a period of silence for reflection, a hymn or
May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory.
7 The Canticle, The Song of Mary (Magnificat)
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord:
my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
Who has looked with favour on his lowly servant:
from this day all generations will call me blessed;
The Almighty has done great things for me:
and holy is his name
God has mercy on those who fear him:
from generation to generation.
The Lord has shown strength with his arm:
and scattered the proud in the conceit
Casting down the mighty from their thrones:
and lifting up the lowly.
God has filled the hungry with good things:
and sent the rich away empty.
He has come to the aid of his servant Israel:
to remember the promise of mercy,
The promise made to our forebears:
to Abraham and his children for ever.
Luke 1:47-55
8 The Prayers
Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy Lord have mercy.
9 The Lord's Prayer and the Collect of the Day
Our Father in heaven
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.
Almighty God,
who give to your servant N
boldness to confess the name of Jesus Christ
and courage to die for this faith:
teach us to always to be ready
to give a reason for the hope that is in us,
and to suffer gladly for the sake of our Lord and Saviour;
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Almighty God,
by whose grace and power
your holy martyr N triumphed over suffering
and was faithful even to death:
grant that we, who now remember him/her in thanksgiving,
may be so faithful in our witness to you in this world,
that we may receive with him/her the crown of everlasting life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
O God, our heavenly Father,
who raised up your faithful servant N
to be a bishop in your Church
and to feed your flock:
give abundantly to all bishops and other pastors
the gifts of your Holy Spirit,
so that they may minister in your household
as true servants of Christ,
and stewards of your holy mysteries;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
O God, our heavenly Father,
who raised up your faithful servant N
to be a bishop in your Church
and to feed your flock:
give abundantly to all bishops and other pastors
the gifts of your Holy Spirit,
so that they may minister in your household
as true servants of Christ,
and stewards of your holy mysteries;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
10 Intercessions and Thanksgivings may be made according to local custom and need.
11 The Evening Collect
Lighten our darkness, Lord, we pray: and in your great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of your only Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
12
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us praise the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
May our Lord Jesus Christ, and God our Father, comfort our hearts and establish them in every good work and word. Amen.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17